With its quiet roads amidst fields of lavender, fine wines to taste, and wonderful food to eat, the Provence region of France is heaven on earth for the itinerant cyclist. Beginning in the village of Vaison la Romaine, we will cycle routes that will include the region’s market towns, wine-making villages and medieval cities. We’ll taste wine in centuries old caves, see Roman antiquities, visit hill-top castles steeped in history and stroll markets at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and others. We’ve been coming here for 20 years and can say there are few places as welcoming to those on a bicycle as this enchanting area of France.

Only Great Explorations:

  • Small groups, extraordinary guides, and authentic experiences
  • A ride you will never forget: cycling the wine route through Seguret, Gigondas and Vacqueras
  • Order off the menu at restaurants you won’t find in guidebooks
  • Distinctive, charming hotels too small for larger groups
  • We design and operate our own trips so there are only good surprises

Location

Avignon

Avignon, France

Starting Location

Vaison-la-Romaine

Vaison-la-Romaine, France

Day 1-2

Mazan

Mazan, France

Day 3-4

Gordes

Gordes, France

End Location

What’s Included in the Cost of Your Trip?

INCLUDED IN REGULAR TRIP

Services of one or more experienced Great Explorations guides
Support vehicle
6 nights lodging
All breakfasts, 2 lunches, and all dinners but 1
Entrance fees for selected historical sites and museums
Detailed map and route instructions
All baggage transportation
All transportation from initial meeting point to final drop-off (see arrive/depart cities)

Not Included

Bike rental

Particulars

EVENT DATES

2023

Apr 30-May 6
May 19-25
Jun 12-18
Aug 20-26
Sep 10-16
Sep 17-23

2024

Apr 28-May 4
May 17-23
Jun 10-16
Aug 18-24
Sep 8-14
Sep 15-21

Trip can start any date. Self-guided and custom trips also available. Call or email for details.

TRIP SIZE

4-16 participants

TOTAL DAYS

7 days / 6 nights

ARRIVE / DEPART

Vaison-La-Romaine / Avignon

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Moderate
30-60+ km / 20-40 miles daily including century options on 2 days (longer options available)
Van supported

TERRAIN

3 days gently rolling, 3 days are oderately rolling

COST

Land Cost:
US $3,650
Includes 6B/2L/5D

Single Supplement:
US $920

Bike Rental:
US $280

E-Bike Rental:
US $480*

*E-bikes are generally available but are on an ‘on request basis ‘ and will be confirmed on receipt of your booking registration. Rental rates include delivery to the first hotel and pick-up from the last hotel. E-bikes provided are the best rentals available in the region. Our regular fleet of hybrid and race bikes are fun to ride and light and fast, but if having an e-bike will make your trip, we’ll do our best to provide. E-bike rentals are non-refundable. 

Please note: Final itinerary is subject to revision; any changes made are done so in an attempt to provide the best possible trip given route conditions and available services. Due to the nature of our business and exchange rates, prices are subject to change. All prices quoted are U.S. dollars but we gladly accept payment in Canadian dollars also. Due to cancellations and waiting lists, trip availability fluctuates daily. If you have any questions or would like to confirm space on this trip before making your reservation, please contact us at info@great-explorations.com or by telephone at 604.730.1247.

Getting there
Our trip starts in Vaison-La-Romaine which can be reached through Avignon, or Orange, by taxi or coach service.


1

Day 1+2

Vaison la Romaine

Our guides will greet you at the Avignon TGV train station at 11:20 upon your arrival from Paris. From there our guides will whisk you away to Vaison la Romaine where a picinic lunch awaits. Afterwards, we will hit the bikes and ride a warm up loop of some nearby vineyards ,arriving back in Vaison in the late afternoon. There we can visit the Roman ruins and then enjoy a welcome wine reception at the hotel before dinner at a local restaurant. Next day, we will set off on bikes on a delightful ride to Entrechaux which nestles around a hilltop castle in ruins and Mollans-sur- Ouvèze clusters around a high-arched bridge marked on each side by a tower and a tiny chapel.

2

Day 3+4

Mazan

Tuesday is market day in Vaison (one of the largest and oldest in France). After Vaison, wind your way among the wine villages of the Dentelles de Montmirail, stopping to explore Sablet, Gigondas, and Vacqueyras. Séguret is an artists’ colony with charming shops and galleries. Spend the night in Mazan at a charming chateau with extensive grounds and large pool. Dinner will be at a restaurant that is one of our favourites in the region. Next day, ride across the flank of Mont Ventoux (climbing the summit is an option), a loop to Bedoin and Monieux and back via an extraordinary descent of the Gorge du Nesque. It is one of our favourite rides in all of France.

3

Day 5+6

Cabrières-d’Avignon/Gordes

From Mazan, ride south through the pretty villages of Saint-Didier and La Roque-sur-Pernes to exquisite Fontaine de Vaucluse, then to the beautiful Luberon Valley. Next day, ride a magnificent loop to Gordes, a stunning perched town with artists’ studios, cozy cafés and arcaded medieval lanes. Discover the red shades of Roussillon and find the ruins of the castle of the Marquis de Sade at Lacoste. We’ll finish the trip with a celebratory cooking course and dinner at our charming hotel. It will be an evening you may never forget.

4

Day 7

Departure Day

Transfer to Avignon for trains onward.

Hôtel Beffroi, Vaison-La-Romaine

Located in the medieval village, this chateau features lovely gardens and a pool. It is in one of the most beautiful 16th century mansions in the Old City of Vaison; you can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. No A/C at this hotel if traveling in July or August this can be an issue.


Chateau de Mazan, Mazan

Located in a small village, this 18th century mansion boasts large guest rooms, a gourmet restaurant and large outdoor swimming pool. A/C


Bastide de Voulonne, near Gordes

In the heart of the Luberon, this welcoming hotel is our idea of luxury. With a large outdoor heated swimming pool and a superb restaurant, enjoy the peace and tranquilty of this property. Recommended by Guide de Charme. A/C



			

Trip Reviews

October 28, 2022

“France was our third trip with GE. We find the guides have always been well informed, fun to be around, and have excellent local knowledge. The hotels and restaurants are always unique and interesting, something we probably would not find on our own. We liked the wine tastings and the nougat (candy) factory. Everyone enjoyed the rides through small towns and villages; the unique hotels and the fantastic food. It is an “overall” experience that all of our kids love.”

October 28, 2022

“The guides definitely exceeded my expectations. I love France and everything about it. Wine tastings were awesome. Really loved the cold drinks and snacks offered at stops and at the end of the riding day – small detail but very much appreciated! My bike was off the charts and the geometry suited me perfectly!! That bike was so light, it basically rode itself.”

October 28, 2022

“All of our guides were incredible. I would love to do another trip with all of them. They were fun, professional and dealt with all of our questions and concerns so well. I can’t say enough good things about them.”

October 28, 2022

“Excellent guides, great value for money, nice touches. Loved the riding. Amazing road conditions (pavement was like butter for the most part) and GORGEOUS sights. The guides were outstanding and amazing at pivoting and adapting to our many (varied) requests from those who wanted longer, harder rides to those looking for something easier. There were more options than our last trip, and people appreciated it. All the accommodations were terrific in their own way. The van was always available and a welcome sight during/after a tough ride with plentiful snacks, nourishment and fixes. Our guides were what made this trip truly special. They were attentive, knowledgeable, responsive, PATIENT, helpful and FUN!”

October 21, 2021

“Great cycling trip. We especially liked the challenge of climbing Mt Ventoux and the incredible Gorges de la Nesque ride! We loved visiting the L’Ilse sur la Sorgue market to pick up provisions for our picnic at Fontaine de Vaucluse, a very unique spot beside the river with towering limestone cliffs. The countryside in Provence is lovely. Nice quiet roads, lovely weather and good mix of terrain. We really enjoyed the Ochre trail in Roussillon, the wine tasting at Domaine de la Citadelle near Gordes and the guided tour in Vaison-la-Romaine with a young guide who was very sweet (it was her first time doing an English tour). The room in Chateau de Mazan exceeded my expectations. In terms of dinner, the Bartadelle in Vaison was my husband’s favorite as he had his three best dishes and the one in Mazan at Le Ventoux was mine. Amazing Tarte aux Pommes. Since we were on a private tour, we followed our guides directions. RideWithGPS app is very useful. In terms of riding, we usually did the full routes and they were great. Very good bikes! Vehicle support was very good. We appreciated our Travel Advisor putting this trip together for us on short notice and her recommendations for Corsica. Our guide exceeded all our expectations!”

May 2, 2019

“We could not have been more delighted. Guides were exceptional (Veronika, Adrian, Gabriel). Route, hotels, restaurants also perfect. Rides were perfect. Did a great job of having something for everyone. Bikes were excellent. It was nice that they were set up with gearing to make the climbs more palatable. We loved the cheese shop & wine tasting in Vaison la Romaine. We have ridden with Great Explorations multiple times in the last few years, and each trip was wonderful. We wanted to do a private trip with friends to celebrate my 60th birthday, and there was no question that we wanted to do it with Great Explorations. They were extremely helpful in helping us pick the destination and planning all the details. Also extremely flexible in accommodating our ideas.”

September 12, 2016

“Spectacular scenery, perfect weather, fantastic food and accommodations.”

September 23, 2012

Best trip ever! Scenery, cycling, food, accommodation and the people. Planning my next trip!!

September 23, 2012

Overall I would rank it up with one of the best trips we have ever had, everything from the hotels, food, destinations, equipment, guide were all top shelf. We can’t wait to do another one!!!

Leave a Review